Wade admits to 'shock' as he becomes first man to win two top awards since England great Wilkinson

Christian Wade has described himself as ‘shocked’ to be following in the footsteps of Jonny Wilkinson.

The
Wasps flyer has been named as players’ player-of-the-year at the annual
awards of the Rugby Players’ Association which looks after England’s
top players.

Wade was also named young player of the year and becomes the first player to win both awards since Wilkinson.

Award: Wade was named Young Player of the Year, and was presented his award by England coach Stuart Lancaster

Doubling up: Wade with the Players' Player of the Year award

But England’s World Cup winner won his awards in 1999 and 2003 thus Wade is the first to win both in the same season.

The 22-year-old, who finished
the season as joint top try scorer in the Aviva Premiership alongside
Wasps colleague Tom Varnell, won the awards for his brilliant finishing.

‘It just shows the hard work is paying off,’ he said about the Computacenter-sponsored awards held at Battersea Evolution.

Centre of attention: Christian Wade talks to reporters at an England media day on Wednesday

Wade
did not realise that he was following in the footsteps of Wilkinson.
‘I’m shocked,’ he said. ‘I’m surprised and pretty humble as well. But to
have the respect of your peers is also a very good feeling to have.’

Wade paid tribute to the work of Wasps coaches Dai Young and Shane Howarth in helping his development this season.

He is set to play for England on
Sunday in the annual non-cap match against the Barbarians at
Twickenham. He scored a try in the contest last season – which England
won 57-26 – and went on the summer tour of South Africa but only
appeared in midweek games.

On the charge: Wade in action for Wasps against Bayonne in the Challenge Cup last December

Next
week he heads out on England’s two-match Test tour of Argentina and is
expected to make his full international debut following the decision to
rest Chris Ashton, the regular right wing.

Wade believes it is time for him to ‘step up.’ He added: 'There is a lot of pressure on to do the job in going out there.

'To
get the opportunity in Argentina you need to take it with both hands
because it may not come round again. There a lot of young players in the
squad who are all pushing for places.’ Wade said he had learned a lot
from England’s summer tour of South Africa last summer, especially how
the experienced internationals prepared for games.

The main man: Wade playing for England against the South Africa Southern Barbarians last summer

'They pay more attention to
detail compared to your clubs and you are also playing against tougher
opposition. You have to learn quickly and be up to the mark.'

England
are set to field an inexperienced team against the Barbarians including
Gloucester’s Freddie Burns at fly half. Burns takes over from Saracens’
Owen Farrell, who is on the Lions tour, and Toby Flood, the Leicester
fly half, who has been rested.

Other uncapped players pushing for a chance at Twickenham are Matt Kvesic, the Worcester flanker, and Sale prop Henry Thomas.